4 weeks after Kelso and Donna left for California

Location: Eric Forman's Basement

Time: 8:57

There sat Eric Forman in the basement, depressed. He knew he screwed up, just like what he said to his parents, he always screwed these things up. If all he did was take Donna back, him and Donna would be in the basement right now, having a good time. He didn't know why only bad things happened to him. The love of his life is gone because he was just too stubborn. It's been 4 weeks since Donna and Kelso left, and everyday Eric felt guilty. He was the reason she left, she was crying, she wanted him back, she knew dating Casey was wrong. But he couldn't see that Donna truly was sorry. Now it was just him, watching TV, while Hyde and Fez were at the Hub, they invited him to go but he rejected. He didn't know where Jackie was and couldn't imagine she felt much better than he did. They were going to get married after all.

Then the basement door swung open and speak of the devil, it was Jackie Burkhart.

Eric looked up and saw the brunette. She had the same distant expression on she's had since it happened. It was hard to sympathize with Jackie, but he found himself doing it more than he'd like to admit. The time she thought she was pregnant, and when she kissed the cheese guy, even though she turned the tables on him. Despite it, he couldn't help but feel bad now.

Jackie went to Hyde's chair, sat down and watched the show with Eric, and the two sat there in silence. Jackie needed to get something off her chest and Eric was the closest person.

"Eric, do you think I was pressuring Michael too much?", Jackie asked, turning to Eric. She's barely talked all this time, to him, at least. He turned to her, and carefully thought about how he was going to answer. He wanted to burn her but, didn't have the heart too, or lack thereof, seeing how upset she looked in her eyes.

"Jackie, I don't know, I mean maybe?...Marriage is alot to take in, especially for a Kelso. He was probably just scared. He loves you, I know that much Jackie but, don't go bashing yourself for it. I know if you guys would've waited a little bit, he probably would've been ready", Eric said, realizing what a long answer it was. If this was normal Eric, who still had Donna, he would've answered Jackie's question with a yes and that'd be it. But once again, he found himself sympathizing with her, and as much as it sickened him, he knew she felt as bad as he did.

Jackie did a light smile, "You really think so?"

Eric nodded, "Probably. No explanation for me though, I'm just a dumbass who rejected the girl that I love", he said.

"Oh Eric...yes you are a dumbass", Jackie said with a gentle laugh. Eric nodded but he also couldn't help but break out a smile. "But...we both messed up."

Eric nodded in agreement, "So where do we go from here?"

Jackie sighed, "Well, we are just gonna have to deal with it. Whether we like it or not."

"Yeah, I guess you're right", Eric said in agreement. "Hey you know its the end of the world when the devil and the nerd are sympathizing with each other." He said, and him and Jackie both laughed, mainly because it was true. Eric and Jackie did have their moments even if they weren't the best of friends.

"Yeah", Jackie said, and after the laughter died down a bit, Eric spoke up again.

"This summer is gonna suck", he said. Jackie nodded in agreement. "At least we got Hyde and Fez," Eric said and right after Hyde burst through the door, with a big grin on his face. He had a five o'clock shadow which he didn't bother to shave off, though everybody was hoping he would before it became a beard.

"Guys", He started, trying not to break down laughing. "Fez wanted to get a pet, so he grabbed a squirrel and..." Was all he could say before cracking up again. "It bit him and ran into a tree so Fez chased it into a hole and his head is stuck!"

After a couple seconds Eric joined him in the laughing.

"You guys gotta see this", Hyde said before going out the basement door. Eric and Jackie looked at each other and shrugged.

"Yeah...they are our friends for some reason", Jackie said, and her and Eric joined the remaining basement gang.